Makhaya Ntini was named South Africa’s Cricketer of the Year at the gala Annual Mutual and Federal Awards dinner on Wednesday night.
The South African paceman’s persistence, stamina and success made him a strong candidate. Ntini took 58 wickets in 14 Tests, in the process becoming the third South African to reach 200 Test wickets.
His sensational 13-wicket haul in the second Test against the West
Indies in Trinidad was instrumental in setting up the series victory in the Caribbean.
His performance in the one-dayers means Ntini returned to the top 10 in the world One Day International (ODI) rankings, while teammate Andre Nel has consolidated his status as a leading international bowler, climbing 20 places to 26th.
Proteas skipper Graeme Smith was named the Standard Bank ODI cricketer of the year.
Smith achieved his best position to date in the LG International Cricket Council (ICC) ODI rankings, moving up to third place after South Africa’s victory in the Caribbean.
Smith has had a phenomenal run of form over the latter stages of the season, scoring hundreds in three consecutive Tests in the Caribbean. His 1 270 runs included four hundreds and he finished the period under review with an average of 50,80.
The Cricketer of the Year award is SA’s premier cricketing honour.
South Africa’s 5-0 series win in the West Indies saw them climb back into the top four of the ICC ODI championship for the first time since July 2004. The victory in the Caribbean boosted South Africa’s rating by five points to 112.
West Indies went into the series only two points behind South Africa in the LG ICC table but the comprehensive defeat has seen their rating fall to 98 points, the lowest since November 2002, and to seventh position.
It has been a poor series for the West Indies players too, reflected in Brian Lara’s drop of 14 places to 22nd, his lowest one-day rating for four years. Ian Bradshaw was the only West Indies bowler to move up in the top 100 rankings, climbing five places to 17th.
The list of the winners:
STANDARD BANK ONE-DAY INTERNATIONAL CRICKETER OF THE YEAR: Graeme Smith
CASTLE LAGER/MTN TEST CRICKETER OF THE YEAR: Makhaya Ntini
SOUTH AFRICAN NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR: AB de Villiers
SOUTH AFRICAN PLAYER’S PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Makhaya Ntini
SUPERSPORT’S FIND CRICKETER OF THE YEAR: Jacques Kallis
WOMEN’S CRICKETER OF THE YEAR: Alicia Smith
MUTUAL AND FEDERAL CRICKETER OF THE YEAR: Makhaya Ntini
– Own reporter, Sapa